President Biden, in a White House briefing on the federal response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, made several gaffes that generated headlines. While discussing recovery efforts, Biden, seemingly momentarily confused, referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as ‘the president’ after an awkward interruption from Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. Granholm attempted to remind Biden to hand over the microphone to Harris, prompting Biden to laughingly declare, “She’s my boss here.” This exchange added a layer of amusement to an otherwise serious discussion on the devastating impact of the hurricanes.
The president, however, stressed the federal government’s commitment to assisting impacted states like North Carolina, Florida, and others. He highlighted ongoing efforts by FEMA, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Army Corps, and the Florida National Guard to provide rescue and recovery aid. Biden also expressed concern about misinformation circulating online, calling claims of an inadequate federal response “disgusting.”
Biden emphasized the immense scale of the damage, citing expert estimates that Hurricane Milton alone caused $50 billion in destruction. He announced that the administration would request additional funding from Congress to support recovery efforts.
Meanwhile, Vice President Harris, appearing virtually, highlighted her involvement in coordinating resources with local and state authorities, including food, water, medical supplies, and generators. She also noted her discussions with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on combating price-gouging in the wake of the disaster. Harris reassured impacted communities that the federal government would provide the resources they need for both immediate response and long-term recovery.
This briefing, however, was overshadowed by the ongoing political tension surrounding the federal hurricane response. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, has criticized Vice President Harris’ involvement in the process, stating she has “no role” and declining to take her call regarding the hurricane response. This prompted Harris to assert her role in the cabinet discussions and her coordination efforts with state and local officials. The exchange underscores the ongoing political divide, even in the face of a natural disaster, as the Biden administration seeks to demonstrate its commitment to assisting those affected by the hurricanes.
